No Consideration of Temporary Redeployment for Furloughed TfL Staff

Caroline Pidgeon: Why was consideration not given to temporarily redeploying the 7,000 TfL staff who were furloughed to other parts of the GLA Group? Many of these staff could have helped relieve pressure on the GLA throughout this crisis, avoiding the need for the GLA to contract out certain elements of its COVID-19 response.

The Mayor: Transport for London’s (TfL) immediate response to the crisis focused on reducing passenger numbers so that it could focus on transporting critical workers around London. This had a significant impact on TfL’s fare income and other revenue. Therefore, like many other transport organisations, TfL has been in discussion with Government regarding the financial support needed to deal with the impact of this pandemic. As part of these discussions, TfL was asked to use the Government’s job retention scheme to help reduce its expenditure during the crisis. TfL’s initial focus was therefore to furlough its employees that were eligible under the scheme.
TfL is committed to supporting opportunities across the Greater London Authority (GLA), and has recently seconded project staff there. TfL has also launched a tool to advertise secondment opportunities across the GLA, central Government and boroughs to its employees, including those still on furlough.

West Hampstead step-free access

Andrew Dismore: Following on from question 2020/1985, what are the preferred plans, and how much do they cost?

The Mayor: The feasibility report that was completed in March 2019 detailed four possible options. The preferred option was to install a lift and undertake simultaneous capacity enhancement work. It was estimated that this option would cost in the region of £10 - £15m. A source of third-party funding must be identified in order to take this work forward.

Unite the Union and Bus Safety

Keith Prince: You have repeatedly seemingly given responsibility for monitoring that bus companies are maintaining Covid-related hygiene measures to Unite the Union, rather than having TfL do it. What gives you the confidence that the right body to ensure the safe working conditions of London's heroic transport workers is a union that donates to your political campaigns, rather than TfL, the transport body you chair?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) and I have been completely focused on keeping transport staff and users as safe as possible during this pandemic. Part of the trade union’s normal responsibilities is to protect the interests of its members, and that has continued through the pandemic. It is right that the vast majority of issues are discussed and managed locally between the employer and staff. However, escalation to TfL has been available throughout this time to help resolve issues should this be necessary.

Nominee Passes (3)

Keith Prince: If you unwilling to suspend nominee passes, will you make them only operational after 9am?

The Mayor: The nominee pass is a long-standing part of the terms and conditions of Transport for London (TfL) employees and there are no plans to change its use at present.

Face Masks and Bus Workers

Keith Prince: How do you reconcile arguing that the Government should force the public to wear masks on public transport with TfL accepting Unite the Union’s ‘demand’ that masks for Bus Drivers be optional?

The Mayor: Drivers sit in self-contained cabs which have had additional seals added to the protective screen to virtually isolate this area from passenger contact following work to minimise the risks to staff by Transport for London (TfL), Unite the union, and bus operators.
Analysis from University College London found this substantially reduces the chances of drivers contracting coronavirus from passengers. This is on top of the rigorous cleaning regime, limiting the number of customers allowed onto buses and preventing customers from sitting near the driver. Because of these safeguards and the self-isolated nature of the driving compartment, bus drivers are not required to wear face coverings when inside the driver's cab.

TfL Board meetings

Caroline Pidgeon: With TfL Board meetings being held remotely will you give an assurance that these meetings will in future always be webcast in real time and not at a later time as was the case with the recent meeting of TfL’s remuneration committee?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) is using Microsoft Teams for its virtual meetings, which requires specialist equipment for live streams. TfL Board meetings are being webcast live as usual by the broadcast team at City Hall. TfL Committee and Panel meetings are being posted on the web the same day and as soon as possible after the meeting. Using the broadcast team at City Hall for committee and panel meetings is not an option as it can only stream one meeting at a time.
TfL is exploring how the technical issue can be addressed but, given its financial position, it cannot commit to expenditure for a temporary change of process.

Driverless Trains (2)

Tony Devenish: Will you consider piloting a Tube line with driverless trains?

The Mayor: As I have previously set out, there are no plans for the introduction of driverless trains.
Piloting a Tube line with driverless trains would be very complex and expensive. There are no Tube lines that would be able to operate with driverless trains without further signalling upgrades, new infrastructure (like platform edge doors) or new trains. Therefore it would be likely to represent poor value for money, given the significant upfront cost of infrastructure, signalling and train modifications that would be required even for a pilot.
The additional benefits derived would be limited in terms of capacity. For example, the Victoria line already operates a world-class 36 trains per hour during peak times. The signalling system automatically controls the train, with the train operator managing incidents, and ensuring the safe arrival and departure of the train at every station.

Rough sleeping (2)

Andrew Boff: How many of the 6,000 new government-funded housing units for rough sleepers will be delivered in London? What involvement will the GLA have in the delivery of these homes?

The Mayor: The number of homes delivered the capital will depend on London’s share of the new funding. Please also see my response to Mayor's Question 2020/1687.

Deaths of Agency Bus Drivers from Covid-19

Keith Prince: Did TfL include Agency Bus Drivers in its announcement of 29 Bus Driver Fatalities? If so, of that total, how many were Agency Bus Drivers?

The Mayor: Transport for London did include Agency Bus Driver in its announcement. Of the 29 bus driver fatalities, two were Agency bus drivers.

Step-Free Journey Planner

Alison Moore: Both London Bridge and West Norwood Stations are step-free. However, when trying to plan a step-free journey using TfL’s Journey Planner it does not offer a step-free National Rail journey. Instead it offers a journey via London Underground and the #2 bus. Can you explain why such step-free national rail journeys are not being suggested by TfL’s Journey Planner and whether you will rectify the situation?

The Mayor: West Norwood and London Bridge are both correctly included as step-free in Journey Planner. There are two options for step-free access; step-free to platform or full step-free access. The latter is not available to any National Rail, Overground or Transport for London rail station because it would require assisted boarding via a manual ramp unlike the platform humps and level platforms available at various Underground stations, which don’t need assistance. Journey planner will always show the quickest journey and as through trains only operate every 30 minutes, an alternative journey by Tube and Bus is shown, as this will result in slightly quicker options, rather than waiting for the next train.

Pavement Obstructions

Alison Moore: TfL and the London boroughs have a duty and the powers to keep London’s pavements clear of obstructions. This is especially important at this time when Londoners are being asked to keep a distance. Will the Mayor expand the number of streets on which it actively enforces against unlawful highways obstructions and encourage the London boroughs to do the same on their streets?

The Mayor: As part of my Streetspace plan, Transport for London (TfL) is working to transform London; prioritising road space for walking and cycling and making it safer and easier for people to move around the Capital in this way.This includes transformational schemes such as new cycle lanes and wider footways. Many London boroughs are doing the same.
These plans build on the foundations of excellent work to date between TfL, boroughs and businesses to keep pavements clear of dangerous and unlawful obstructions. As the highway authority for the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN), TfL uses its powers to remove and enforce against all unauthorised obstructions as they can cause safety risks, limit accessibility and hinder pedestrian movement and distancing. This activity continues to be important in London’s recovery and ensuring that people walking can adhere to social distancing guidelines wherever possible.
TfL is currently prioritising its enforcement and operational support efforts to road changes, through business engagement and enforcement, based on identified safety risks and risk of crowding.

Nominee Passes (1)

Keith Prince: Given the need to cut back on unnecessary journeys on public transport, will you scrap nominee passes for the family members or flatmates of TfL staff?

The Mayor: This benefit is a long-standing part of the terms and conditions of TfL employees and there are no plans to change the use of nominee passes at present.

Nominee Passes (2)

Keith Prince: If you are unwilling to scrap nominee passes, will you at least suspend them whilst public transport capacity is constrained?

The Mayor: TfL has not issued any new or replacement Nominee passes since lockdown began in mid-March unless the nominee is a Key worker. Current travel advice applies to all passengers on the TfL network, including those who use a nominee pass.
The nominee pass is a long-standing part of the terms and conditions of Transport for London (TfL) employees and there are no plans to change its use at present.

Crossrail (1)

Gareth Bacon: Further to question 2020/1711, when do you expect the discussions between Crossrail Ltd and the Office for Rail and Road to conclude on the length of time required to complete intensive testing of the railway?

The Mayor: The focus for everyone at Crossrail is progressing the programme activity that supports the entry into intensive operational testing at the earliest opportunity. Duration of the testing is still to be determined but this will be for as long as is necessary to ensure the safety and reliability of passenger services.

Equality Impact Statement and Bus Driver Retention Payment

Caroline Pidgeon: Paragraph 3.4 of Mayoral Decision 2562 states “TfL will now work with bus operators to complete a full Equality Impact Assessment to ensure there are no discriminatory impacts from the implementation of the retention payment scheme" yet paragraph 3.3 clearly identifies that there are clear impacts based on age, disability, gender and maternity. Why was the retention payment allowed without a full Equality Impact Assessment being conducted before it was approved in March and when is one expected to be completed?

The Mayor: The bus driver retention payment scheme applies to all permanent drivers working on regular bus routes contracted by Transport for London (TfL) and is apportioned to the number of hours worked in the qualifying period. As noted in the decision, the equalities impacts were considered in developing the proposal and will remain under review during implementation. As TfL is not the employer of bus drivers in London and does not, therefore, have full details of the characteristics of the bus driver community, the assessment was made based on information available to TfL at the time. TfL is working with bus operators to keep the assessment under review and any necessary mitigatory actions.

Agency Bus Drivers denied March 2020 TfL Retention Payment

Keith Prince: Paragraph 1.17 of “Request for Mayor Decision MD 2562” states that “Agency Bus Drivers will not be eligible for the retention payment.” Can you provide me with all documentation (emails, memos, management decisions) which provide a rationale for that decision?

The Mayor: The main purpose of my retention scheme is to reward bus drivers permanently employed by the bus operators for staying in the profession after the first few years of making this career choice when high turnover rates are typically seen. At an early stage of discussions on the scheme, Transport for London’s Managing Director for Surface Transport decided that agency drivers would not be in scope so there is no supporting documentation about this.
While agency drivers have a role to play in addressing peaks in demand and covering for sickness and vacancies, there are benefits to having as many permanent drivers (whether full or part time) in the workforce as possible.
This incentive may help persuade agency drivers to apply for and become permanent member of staff too – and provide London with a bigger pool of permanent staff. Permanent drivers benefit from not only the retention payment but also the bespoke City & Guilds qualification for London and tailored courses like Destination Zero, which look at the safest way to drive in relation to vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists.
The following link provides further information about the decision-making process and supporting documentation.
https://www.london.gov.uk/decisions/md2592-bus-driver-retention

Hammersmith Bridge

Caroline Pidgeon: Please provide an update on TfL’s negotiations over securing extra funding for the full repair and strengthening of this bridge. What is TfL’s latest estimated date that the bridge will re-open to take single decker buses?

The Mayor: Concept designs have been completed for the temporary bridge which would maintain access for walking and cycling while the main bridge works are taking place. Concept designs for the main bridge strengthening work have also been competed, as have the detailed designs for the stabilisation works, which are the necessary first step to make the structure safe before the substantive repairs take place.
You will be aware of the catastrophic impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on TfL’s income. TfL is now dependent upon funding being made available from the Government to support the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham in repairing the bridge. Therefore, while TfL is now ready to proceed with repairs, it needs funding from the Government to be able to do so.
Two separate bids had previously been submitted to the Department of Transport (DfT) for financial support required for the refurbishment. However, any DfT funding for the bridge would now need to form part of wider negotiations on the financial support that TfL will need in the second half of this financial year (October 2020 – April 2021), and the whole of the next financial year (2021/22).

Concentrated flight path review

Caroline Russell: Residents have written to me to express their concerns that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) concentrated flightpath review is being pushed back indefinitely. Will you ask the CAA for more transparency and clarity about the consultation to show support for overflown Londoners whose lives are blighted by the noise and disturbance?

The Mayor: I have asked my officers to follow up with London City Airport and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to understand the nature of and justification for any delay.
I remain deeply concerned about the impact of the concentrated flight paths implemented by London City Airport, and I and my Deputy Mayors have raised this with them on several occasions, at meetings and in writing. The Airport has allowed this issue to drag on for too long – with a corresponding detrimental impact on the health and quality of life of local communities – and I urge London City Airport to finally act to address this.

Crossrail - Bond Street

Tony Devenish: Why was it necessary for CSJV to exit the C412 contract at Bond Street?

The Mayor: In response to the impact of coronavirus, Crossrail Ltd has been reviewing and restructuring the remaining works across the project that are essential to the opening of the railway. This includes at Bond Street which is uniquely affected due to the volume of work remaining and the number of people required on site. This meant that the work remaining at Bond Street for Trial Running needed to be replanned.
Given the unique circumstances at Bond Street, it was mutually agreed by Crossrail and contractor Costain Skanska Joint Venture that the existing contract should conclude. Crossrail Ltd will oversee completion of the remaining works at Bond Street.

London Transport Workers on Long Term Sick Leave as a result of Covid-19 Infections

Keith Prince: How many London Transport Workers are on Long Term Sick Leave as a result of Covid-19? Please show this data by transport mode and position held by casualty (‘Bus Driver, Tram Worker, Train Driver’)

The Mayor: The below table provides the number of Transport for London (TfL) employees who are on long term absence due to coronavirus as at the 8 July 2020. This has been broken down by business area. TfL do not hold data on long term absence for its partner organisations, including bus operators.
TfL Business Area
Number currently on long term absence due to covid-19
London Underground
923
Assets
43
Network Operations – Customer Services
583
Network Operations – Line Operations
282
Network Operations – Network Delivery
10
Renewals & Enhancements
5
Surface Transport
20
TfL Engineering
4
Customer, Communications & Technology
1
Chief Finance Office
1
Chief People Office
1
Total
950

Camden Goods Yard

Andrew Dismore: What funding is being provided from the GLA to the Camden goods yard development, and what conditions are associated with the funding? Specifically, what types of tenure are required and what proportion of additional new homes provided need to be social rents? Is this in addition to the homes that need to be re-provided?

The Mayor: The GLA has not yet received any requests for funding in respect of development at Camden Goods Yard but details of general funding conditions are published on the Homes for Londoners website.
Homes funded under my Affordable Homes Programmes are expected to be primarily composed of my preferred affordable tenures which are: Low cost rent products including social rent and London Affordable Rent (LAR); London Living Rent (LLR) and London Shared Ownership (LSO). Other products may be funded where they are genuinely affordable to Londoners. My intend to publish London Plan sets a requirement for a minimum of 30% low cost rented homes (either London Affordable Rent or Social Rent) on new developments.
In order to maximise the delivery of additional affordable homes on existing social housing estates, all development proposals including the demolition and replacement of affordable housing must follow the Viability Tested Route and should seek to provide an uplift in affordable housing in addition to replacing affordable housing floorspace on a like for like basis.

Motorbike parking in central London

Caroline Pidgeon: To help prevent a growth in private car journeys in central London in the months ahead will you undertake a review of the provision of motorbike parking and if necessary ensure provision is increased?

The Mayor: Analysis indicates that, as the Government further eases lockdown restrictions, car traffic in central London could double if those who would have used public transport instead choose to drive. To prevent a growth in private car journeys in central London, TfL is encouraging Londoners to walk and cycle if they are able, in order to protect capacity on public transport without increasing motor traffic and emissions.
TfL has also implemented proposals to temporarily widen the scope and level of the Congestion Charge, from which motorbikes and mopeds are exempt. TfL will continue to monitor motorcycle parking provision across central London in line with these changes. TfL invites anyone with specific concerns to contact it directly on [emailprotected].

Congestion Charge exemptions for patients of Western Eye hospital, Marylebone Rd

Murad Qureshi: With the new congestion charging regime now in place, there are concerns for the patients of the Western Eye Hospital on the Marylebone Rd. Patients are required to self-isolate prior to surgery, but also need to attend the hospital for a swab to test for COVID-19. There is no patient parking facility outside the congestion charge zone. Would it be possible for an exemption of congestion charging for their patients?

The Mayor: I appreciate the difficulties some patients experience in attending hospital appointments during the pandemic. I have therefore asked Transport for London to extend the Congestion Charging NHS patient reimbursement scheme to include those classed by the Government as medically ‘moderate’ or ‘high’ risk in terms of COVID-19. This will support public health and ensure the clinically vulnerable are not disadvantaged by being unable to attend important health appointments. However, extending the reimbursement to all hospital appointments would undermine the aims of the Congestion Charging scheme.

Road Safety Data (3)

Alison Moore: The Quarterly provisional figures that have been published cover Q1-Q3 2014, Q1-Q3 2015, Q1-Q2 2016, Q1-Q3 2017, Q1-Q2 2018 and Q1-Q2 2019. Why were Q3 figures not published in 2016, 2018 or 2019?

The Mayor: From September 2016 onwards, the Metropolitan Police Service introduced the Case Overview and Preparation Application (COPA) to report road traffic collisions. Due to these changes and data compatibility issues which resulted in delays in 2016 and 2018 processing information, final year numbers were published rather than quarter three. The introduction of a new collision database within Transport for London for processing 2019 data, together with similar compatibility issues, means that Q3 information will be published as part of the end of year data rather than separately.
Bespoke tables for personal injury road safety data may be requested by emailing [emailprotected]

Road Safety Data (4)

Alison Moore: TfL publishes Provisional Road Fatalities data covering 2019 and 2020. Why do they not also publish data covering serious and slight injuries as well?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) publishes updated fatality information throughout the year. As these numbers are relatively small, TfL is confident that the details provided are as accurate as possible given the provisional details available. Due to the larger number of serious collisions – around 3,500 and slight collisions over 20,000 a year – TfL is unable to quality-assure information until it is processed into its collision database COLLSTATS at a later date. This may result in a lag in providing data covering serious and slight injuries, but it ensures that any numbers published are as correct and reliable as possible.

Road Safety Data (2)

Alison Moore: When will you publish the Collisions and casualties on London's roads (tables) 2018? And the Collisions and casualties on London's roads (tables) 2019?

The Mayor: An overview of road safety statistics for 2018 in London is available in the ‘Casualties in Greater London during 2018’ factsheet: http://content.tfl.gov.uk/casualties-in-greater-london-2018.pdf
Further analysis can be undertaken by using the full dataset of attendant, casualty and vehicle variables available under Data Extracts. Data is currently available from 2005-2018: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/road-safety
Bespoke tables for personal injury road safety data may be requested by emailing [emailprotected]
Transport for London generally issues collision data in line with the Department for Transport publishing schedules. This year, due to lockdown and TfL’s adoption of a new collision processing database, TfL intends to publish final 2019 numbers in late summer 2020.

Coach services

Caroline Pidgeon: Please set out what progress has been made in relation to adopting your Transport Strategy recommendations relating to coach services, in particular the specific commitment of “Continuing to work with the coach industry to enable the provision of adequate on-street and off street coach infrastructure in appropriate locations across London for scheduled and tourist coach services, and to allow for their safe and efficient operation.”

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) continues to work closely with local authorities, operators and the industry trade associations to improve facilities for coaches.
For the scheduled express network, TfL is continuing to develop plans for the modernisation of Victoria Coach Station. It is also assessing capacity in its bus stations to accommodate other services.
For tourist coaches, the main focus has been to retain existing on-street coach facilities as demands on the limited usable kerbside space increase. While the recent essential changes to provide more space for walking and cycling as part of my Streetspace programme has meant some coach parking has been temporarily displaced, TfL is exploring alternative locations where possible.

popularity of the Bus Hopper fare since launch

Alison Moore: Your September 2019 Press Release says, “A table of the figures associated with the graph of Hopper journeys by borough is available from the TfL Press Office”. Are you able to place the latest figures on the TfL website and keep those figures updated?

The Mayor: The Transport for London (TfL) website works best for users when it provides the most commonly required information, with more unusual or infrequent requests handled on an individual basis. There are therefore no plans to publish this information on a regular basis as it is rarely requested.
As always, if you need information not available on the website, please do get in touch with the TfL Government Relations team.